Carolus LinnaeusLin·nae·us, Ca·ro·lus /lɪˈniːəs, -ˈneɪ-, kæˈrəʊləs/ (1707–78) a Swedish botanist (=a scientist who studies plants) who invented the system, called the Linnaean System, by which plants and animals are put into groups according to their genus (=general type) and species (=particular type)